With the show's controversial contestant Rylan Clark safely through, with Union J and Jahmene Douglas, the crowd had booed loudly when Christopher Maloney was also confirmed for next week - leaving Henderson and Arthur to battle it out for the remaining place.

With the audience's booing continuing, host Dermot O'Leary said: "Well, you can tell already from the studio it's a shock."

Adding: "One of the biggest shocks we've ever had on the results show."

Clearly shocked and angry at the result of the vote, the judges struggled with their decision of who they wanted to vote to stay.

As both acts received two votes each it resulted in a deadlock.

Ella's mentor, judge Tulisa Contostavlos, said: "This is exactly when people are voting for the wrong people. These people should be finalists."

It was then up to O'Leary to reveal who had received the lowest amount of public votes and Ella -the last remaining female in the competition - was eliminated.

Watch the X Factor results:

After her final act left the show, Tulisa said on ITV2's Xtra Factor: "I don't know what's gone on. I'm shocked."

Tulisa also said she was disappointed that Gary Barlow's final act Christopher Maloney is still in the show.

Celebrity fans of the show, including X Factor boss Simon Cowell, expressed their shock at the result of the public vote:

On Saturday night's show, Henderson received praise from the judges after she sang a slowed down version of the Grease classic The One That I Want.

Gary Barlow told the 16-year-old singer that she had just put on her "best performance to date by far", while Louis Walsh exclaimed she was "electric", adding: "You are going to sell millions and millions of records Ella."

Ella was the hot favourite to win the show from the very first audition, and has held that position throughout,.

Following her exit, bookmakers Coral now has Jahmene Douglas as the 1-2 favourite to win.